Chapter 252: Chapter 252: Living in Your Heart (16)

——

Near the end of the year, James Foster finally got discharged from the hospital.

He was fed up with staying in the hospital; he could have gone home earlier to recuperate, but he held on to fully recover.

When he returned to the ’Joy for You’ store with Watson, he was startled to find that the once bustling business, filled with customers, was no longer the same.

It turns out a new beauty and hair salon had just opened next door, with better decor and more competitive prices, stealing all their business.

This left the store, which should have been booming ahead of the New Year, rather deserted.

James Foster’s good mood soured instantly.

Watson consoled him from the side, "Why not take this chance to renovate as well? Let’s adjust our business strategy."

"I’ve been thinking the same."

After entering the store, James checked the accounts and found something was very wrong.

Ever since the date he fell into a coma, the store’s revenue had been steadily declining. Initially, the drop wasn’t significant, but it became drastic later on.

He asked the store staff, "When did the store next door open?"

"It just opened a few days ago, before that it was under renovation."

"So it’s only been in the past few days that our store’s business has worsened?"

"Yes, usually it’s always packed."

James Foster called Robert Langley and said he was waiting for him in the booth.

When he arrived, before James could question him, Robert Langley spoke first, "Since you’re back now, my wife and I will hand the store back to you. The business isn’t doing well, you can manage it alone, we want to pursue something else."

"Do whatever else you want, but first cough up the money you pocketed." James stared at him, "Robert, you and Lucy have been through life and death together. She’s always treated you as her best friend and let your wife help in the store, yet you embezzled the revenue while I was hospitalized. How could you?"

"Who pocketed money?" Robert responded with a stiff face, "Produce some evidence."

"The surveillance system was fine before, and it’s been intermittently under repair since I was hospitalized. I can’t provide evidence, but let me ask you one thing, can you swear? If you took the money and let your whole family suffer a miserable fate, will you dare?"

"What’s there to be afraid of?" Just as Robert was about to swear, his wife arrived, "James, we haven’t only worked together for a day or two. Aren’t you aware of what kind of people we are?"

James’s face was steely, "I thought I knew you well, but coming to the store today, I realized I don’t know you at all. The surveillance inside the store may have issues, but the outside surveillance is fine. Watson, call Jacob Green, have him send someone to check the road’s surveillance to count how many people enter the store daily, it will be obvious."

"Mate, do you really want to tear us apart?" Robert was ultimately somewhat uneasy, "My wife’s illness relapsed, we desperately needed money. I’ll return the money to you, okay?"

"You pocketed so much money, and it’s not enough to treat your wife’s illness?" James didn’t believe a word of it, "Based on the past revenue, since I was hospitalized until now, you’ve embezzled at least two million."

"My wife and I originally planned to leave the store, but since you want the money back, we won’t leave. Don’t forget, it was Lucy who said herself that I have a ten percent share of the revenue, and you’re not the owner of this store."

"Return the money first."

Robert was rather straightforward and returned the money.

After receiving the money, James said, "You do remember it was Lucy who allowed you to have a ten percent share, huh? I thought you’d forgotten. Lucy has been so good to you and your wife, and how do you repay? Yes, this store isn’t mine, but Lucy secretly gave me a statement. I have a scanned copy in my cloud storage, I’ll send it to you for a good look."

James picked up his phone, logged into his cloud storage, and sent the statement to Robert.

After reading the statement, Robert looked up and smirked, "Even among good friends, there are differences."

The statement was handwritten by Lucy Eaton, written on a whim after once checking the accounts, stamped with her personal seal.

The main content stated that whenever she’s not in the store, all decisions are to be made solely by James Foster, and in the event of any mishap, all her assets are to be handled by James Foster.

Watson saw this statement for the first time and was truly moved by it; what deep emotions must there be to place such trust.

"Indeed, among good friends, there are differences. After all, I’m not like you; I never coveted what didn’t belong to me. I’ve been so grateful for what Lucy has given me, but evidently knowing someone’s face doesn’t mean knowing their heart, things reveal themselves during crucial moments. Robert, initially I thought you were really brotherly, now I despise you. Please take your wife and leave the store immediately, don’t contaminate this place."

Robert chuckled and casually took his wife out.

At the doorway, a colleague peeked and said to James Foster, "They went to the store next door."

James Foster pondered, then called Jacob Green to explain the situation.

"Can you have someone check if the store next door is owned by Robert Langley?"

"Got it." Jacob Green showed concern for him, "Are you okay?"

"I’m fine, I plan to renovate the store."

"I’ll have Aaron find a good designer for you, and then have Elijah Sheppard advertise for you, don’t worry, the store will be bustling like before."

James Foster finally showed a smile, "Thank you for your help."

"No trouble at all, don’t speak so formally. I’ll have Aaron investigate, I’ll call you back a bit later."

"Okay, sounds good."

"What did he say?" Watson asked curiously. 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

"He said he’ll have Aaron investigate and let me know later. He also said he’ll help us find a good designer and have Elijah Sheppard do an advertisement for us."

"Really?!" Watson was overjoyed, "That’s fantastic."

James Foster’s mood shifted from gloomy to bright and said to Watson, "From now on, stop operations, wait until the customers leave to close the doors and ask them to come to the booth. I have something to say."

"Okay, I’ll go tell them now." Watson trotted up to the second floor to share the news with everyone.

Once all the guests had left, the store doors were closed.

James Foster received a call from Jacob Green.

"It’s owned by Robert Langley; the property is rented, buying it is out of reach. The storefront and the seven or eight adjoining shops are owned by Charles Sharp. I’ll give him a heads-up to terminate the contract with Robert Langley, and we’ll cover the penalty."

"That shop just opened and has been renovated..."

"Feeling reluctant? Didn’t he consider your feelings when he deliberately set up next door?" Jacob Green laughed, "James, do you know how business works to be most profitable? Monopoly, understand? That street should have only your beauty and hair salon, and business was naturally good. Now there’s a new one next door, diverting the foot traffic. Can your business still be like before? I’ll handle this, you don’t need to worry. I believe Lucy would agree with my approach if she knew."